From the Streets to the world
Streetball has been glorified by its accessibility, by the simple rules, by the urban culture but mostly because of the spectacularism it provides.
By the late 90’s streetball started to experience mainstream success, and the sneaker and basketball apparel company AND1 used it for selling its products. The combination of AND1 and streetball, took streetball from the inner-city to the homes of millions.
With this success streetball became bigger than anyone could imagine. The stereotype was lifted, and streetball was seen as positive piece of basketball culture.
Today streetball is practiced all across the world, with organized leagues and international tournaments, and it’s going to make part for the first time of the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.
Most popular countries
By definition, streetball is a non-formal urban sport, so the big majority of the players are not register in any organization. It’s impossible to identify how many players exist for shore, but we do know it’s a sport with a worldwide dimension. According to the ranking of the International Basketball Federation, which reflects not only rewards the elite performances of the players but also the activities in the territory of each National Federation, the stronger countries are Russia, United States and France.
Most Popular players
What made streetball so popular around the world, was the spectacularism of its players. It is always subjective to define the best players ever, especially in a mainly non-formal urban sport, and with no access to use social media in the previous decades. But it looks consensual that the most popular players in the history of the sport were the North Americans Raymond Lewis, Earl “The Goat” Magnigut and Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond.
But today, with the professionalism of the sport, it will be very likely to see new stars arising, from both genders.
*We did not mention any women as one of the most popular players, because the current culture of the last century, did not allow them to participate in the game. Haply, today streetball is practice by both genders and even in mix teams.